ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605130094
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ASHBURN
SOURCE: Associated Press
A 17-year-old college-bound honors student has won the right to wear slacks under her gown at Broad Run High School's commencement next month after an about-face by the school's principal.
On Friday, Principal E. Wayne Griffith withdrew his threat to bar Jennie Smith from the ceremony if she wore pants instead of a dress. Griffith said further consideration of the school's 26-year-old policy changed his mind.
``I feel really happy,'' said Jennie, who said she is more comfortable in pants than a dress. ``I didn't expect anything to happen this quickly.''
Griffith summoned Jennie to his office about 10:30 a.m. Friday, the same day a story about the controversy appeared in The Washington Post.
``He was very nice about it,'' she said. ``He said he had thought long and hard about it and decided I should be able to wear pants.''
The principal said he heard from several parents and students on both sides of the issue. He also met with a panel of teachers who said they thought guidelines are necessary, but that styles had changed in the '90s.
``I had no idea we would get this kind of response,'' he said.
Jennie, who plans to attend college this fall in New York, said most of her classmates have been very supportive, and several congratulated her.
``A lot of my friends said they were glad I did this because they wanted to wear pants, too,'' she said. ``I think some were afraid to say anything about it.''
LENGTH: Short : 37 linesby CNB